Spring-plank for car-trucks.



J. H. BAKER. SPRING PLANK FOR GAR TRUCKS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.29. 1908.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

| I l l I I l 7 l I l l I l I l I I i l l I l |lL .rlrIfI wp'... am. MW

WITNESSES .@m, 9m; am...

JAMES H. BAKER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-PLANK FOR CAR-TRUCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Application led October 29, 1908. Serial No. 460,010.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. Baken, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring-Planks for Ca1''l`rucks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, orn'ling part ot' this specilication, in which-- Figure l is a plan view o't a portion ot' my improved plank; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a front view; Fig. 4L is a vertical section on the line IV-IV ot' Fig. l; and E ig. 5 is a plan view showing a moditied form ot one ot' the spring seating portions.

My invention has relation to spring planks tor ear trucks, and is designed to provide a simple and strong plank which can be readily and cheaply 1nanu:l"actured and will permit oil ready access to the securing bolts without the necessity for raising the plank oli' from its seat on the side frame, or otherwise disturbing the springs and bolster.

My improved plank is composed oit two end or spring-seating members and an intermediate member or plank proper. Each of the end members is preferably formed by a separate casting, and the intermediate member is formed by two pieces of angle' iron, or it may be formed of a piece ot channe] iron.

The precise nature oli my invention will be best understood by reference to the aecompanying drawings, which will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made in the details of construction by those skilled in the art, without departing from my invention as detined in the appended claims.

Referring` to these drawings, the numeral 2 designates one ot the end pieces which is formed by a single casting having a number ot' openings extending throughout its length with intermediate ribs 8. Projecting from the bottom ot the end piece 2, are the llanges 3, 3 which lie on each side oit the tension member of the truck frame, and 4, 4lare .flanges which project from the sides of the end piece to form a channel in which the nest oit bolster springs are seated.

Projecting from each side and the bottom of the end piece 2, are the angular members 5, 5, the bottom and sides ot' the end members being prolonged to form the bases and sides of t-hese projections. The base of each ot' these projections 5 is on a line with the bottom of the end piece, while the sides thereo't' are ott'set an amount equal to, or slightly greater than the thickness of the angle bars G, 6, which form the plank proper and are riveted thereto, the other end of the plank is secured to a similar end member.

Projecting through the sides of the end piece are the orifices 7, 7, which line up with orin'ces in the bolster guides or columns of the side t'rame through which bolts or rivets are passed to secure the spring plank to the side trame, the spaces between the ribs and the outside walls of the casting be ing wide enough to permit of the insertion ot these bolts. This permits the bolts to be passed through the holes 7 and into correspending holes in the columns or guides of the side frame to secure the plank in place without the necessity for raising the end or spring seating' portion of the plank from its seat on the tension member of the side trame, and without disturbing the bolster or springs. In some cases, this, of course, necessitates setting the ribs S inwardly slightlyv out ot line with the centers ot the bolster springs, but not su'tliciently far to etlect their etlicient load supporting functions; and il. desired, the central portions of these ribs may be deflected outwardly underneath the center lilies ot' the springs, as shown at 8 in Fig. 5. The projections 5, 5 are long enough to allow a slight variation in the length of the angle bars or channels, and still retain the proper length of spring plank.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, since it provides a strong and rigid spring plank which can be readily and cheaply manufactured. The offset in the projections to which the angle bars or channels are secured brings the sides of the plank flush or within the sides of the ends or spring seats, so that the plank can be readily passed bctween the columns of the side trames of the truck.

The length of the projections to which the planks are secured allows a variation in the length of the plank which obviates the necessity of the close cutting to length oit the planks and the provision of means for permitting the insertion and removal of the securing bolts without disturbing the other parts is a feature of great practical advantage.

It will be obvious that various changes can be made in the details of construction without departing from my invention. Thus, the spring seating portions may be changed in form; and the plank proper may be made of a single channel section; instead of by the two angles; the latter being preferred, however, by reason of greater flightness and economy of metal.

l claim l. A spring plank for car trucks, having` separate spring-seating members provided with inwardly extending portions which are rigidly secured to its end portions at points Wholly inside of and between the springseating portions of the said members; substantially as described.

2. A spring plank for car trucks having separate spring-seating members at its ends, said members having inward extensions or projections which are secured to the plank proper at points wholly inside of and between the spring-seating portions oit said members; substantially as described.

3. A springplank for car trucks, comprising' a central portion of less length than the distance between the insides of the side frames of the car truck, and separate springseating members having inward extensions rigidly secured to the ends of said central portion; substantially as described.

l. A spring plank consisting of spaced parallel bars of less length than the distance between the inner sides of the side frames of a car truck, and separate spring-seating members having inward extensions secured to and connecting said members; substantially as described.

5. A spring plank for car trucks having a central portion of less length than the distance between the inner sides of the side trames ot' a car truck, and separate springsupporting members having inward eXtensions rigidly secured to said central portion, said members having vertical sides adapted to fit directly against the inner sides of the bolster guides or columns and to be secured directly thereto; substantially as described.

G. A spring plank having hollow springseating portions with off-set projections eX- tending inwardly therefrom; substantially as described.

't'. A spring' plank for car trucks having the central portion o1 less length than the distance between the inner sides of the side frames of a truck; and separate spring-seating members rigidly secured to the ends thereof; said members having inwardly eX- tending olii-set projections which form the securing means therefor; substantially as described.

8. A spring plank having hollow spring seating portions with offset projections, andl a flanged intermediate portion secured to said projections; substantially as described.

S). A spring plank composed of angles and hollow spring seating portions with offset projections secured to the angle irons; substantially as described.

10. A spring plank consisting of parallel spaced angle members, and separate spring seating portions secured directly to the end portions of the angle member; substantially as described. y

In testimony whereof; I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES H. BAKER.

lVitnesses GEO. H. PARMELEE; H. M. Corwin. 

